Pothead



May 17, 1938. BRANDT 2,117,697

POTHEAD I Filed Jan. :50, l956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Thomas firm/7d? A tlorney May 17, 1938.

T. F. BRANDT POTHEAD Filed Jan 50, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor yum x 4 fl u Patented May 17, 1938 2,117,697

UNITED STATES PATENT orr cs POTHEAD Thomas F. Brandt, Barber-ton; Ohio, alsignor to The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation oi. New Jersey Application January 30, 1936, Serial No. 61,527 16 Claims. (01. 247- This invention relates to 'potheads or outlet also necessary to guard against concentration of terminalsq'or high potential electric cables imelectrostatic flux at the termination of the mersed in/ oil under pressure. grounded covering for the cable. The means for One object of the invention is to provide a tereffecting this insulation must also prevent escape minal pothead for a high potential electric cable from the conduit oi the oil under pressure and 5 which will provide an effective insulation between be sufficiently economical to manufacture and the cable and its grounded support and witheasy to install to constitute a practical device. stand a high oil pressure surrounding the cable, One form of the present invention for securing and which can be practically completely assemthese results is shown in Fig. l in which the bled at the factory and easily installed on the job. numeral i 0 designates a high potential conductor 10 .1 further object of the invention is to provide wrapped with insulation 1 I, usually of paper, the a pothead having a porcelain sleeve for providing insulation having a strip of thin, perforated metal the principal insulation, the sleeve being conl2 wrapped around its outer, surface. A metal nected by packing glands to the cable housing pipe or conduit i3, filled with oil under pressure,

to insure against leakage of oil. v surrounds the cable. 10

A further object of the invention is to provide The terminal pothead for the cable comprises a pothead having a pair of dielectric sleeves forman inner porcelain tube I4 and an outer porcelain ing internal and external oil chambers and packtube or cone 15. The tubes I4 and 5 ar 8 1D- ing glands for closing the connection between the ported on a base flange I 6 carried on a suitable internal sleeve and the'other portions of the high frame H. The flange I6 is provided with a cen- 20 pressure oil chamber. tral opening for receiving thetube ll, the open- A further object of the invention is to provide g being Surrounded y a w w y extending an oil tight pothead for a high pressure cable rim i8 and an upwa y e t d rim the which shall be economical to manufacture and two forming a collar surrounding the tube i4 5 easy to install. where it passes through the flange IS. The upper A further object of the present invention is to edge of the rim I9 is flared outwardly to provide provide a device of the class named which shall a pocket for packing material 20, the packing be of improved construction and operation. being compressed in the S d th s f r ed y & Other objects and advantages will appear from ring H which is forced downwardly upon -the the following description. packing by nuts 22 on stud bolts 23 having their 30 The invention is exemplified by the combinalower ends threaded into blind openings in the tion and arrangement of parts shown in the aeflange IS. A c llar 24 bridges the space between companying drawings and described in the folthe lower end of the rim l8 and the upper end lowing specification, and it is more particularly of the conduit l3, packing glands 25 and 26- being pointed out in theappended claims, provided to form oil tight jointsat the opposite 35 .In the drawings: ends of the collar 2!. Bolts 21 and 28 are used Fig. 1 is an elevation with parts in section for tightening the packing glands, the glands showing one embodlmentwt the present invenbeing pr v With rings 29 a d 39 p t ve y 7 tion. The upper ring 29 is secured to the flange I5 by 40 Figs. 2 and3 are fragmentary sections of modia series of screws. It will be seen that the 40 fled forms of the invention. collar 24 and sleeve formed by the rims l8 and Fig. 4- is a fragmentary elevation, partly in i9 form a tight connection between the end of section, of the pothead terminal but on a larger the conduit l3 and the lower end of the dielectric scale than Fig. l. l 1 tube i4 so that the high pressure in the conduit In the operation of high potential electric may be continued to the interior of the tube with- 5 cables, it has been found advantageous to surout escape. round the cable with a metal conduit which will The packing glandsare all formed by cooperawithstand a relatively high pressure and to-illl tive members which are connected by screws the conduit with an insulating liquid, such as oil directly connecting the two members which bear under pressure, the pressure ranging from 180 upon the packing so that the glands are self- 50 to 250 pounds per square inch. This outer concontained and the stress for compressing the duit is at ground potential and it is therefore packing is not transmitted tothe connected parts.

' necessary, of course, that the conductor and its A terminal sleeve 32 is mounted on the upper terminal be insulated from the conduit and the end of the tube It and is provided with a liquid 56, grounded support for the outlet housing.- It is tight connection by means oi a packing gland ll.

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The gland 33 comprises a flange 3 3 on the lower end of the sleeve 32 and a ring 35 cooperating with the flange to compress the packing. Bolts 35 connect the flange and ring. The upper end of the sleeve 32 is threaded into a ring nut 3i,

the threads being coated with solder and sweated together to make the joint liquid tight. The conductor it is provided with an extension iii which is drawn through the sleeve 32 and held in place by a terminal cap Bl threaded onto the upper end or the extension. Packing 38 is interposed between the parts 37] and 311' to insure a tight joint at this point and the parts are pressed togather on the packing by cap screws 38'. A screw 39 is threaded into the upper end of the extension iii and bears on a shoulder on the terminal cap ill to insure good electrical connection between the engaging threads on these mem bers. A pipe plug 39 closes the end of the terminal member 371 after the conductor has been secured in place to prevent escape of the high pressure oil within the nothead. A vent is provided at the upper end of the sleeve 32 closed by a pipe plug to. The vent is to permit the escape of air when the pothead is filled with oil under pressure from the conduit 03. The outer portions 'of the adjacent surfaces of the parts 3i and 3? are sli htly offset relative to the inner portions and a weathering gasket Gil is inserted between these offset portions to protect the packing 88 from deterioration.

it will be seen that the parts thus far described provide an insulating continuation of the conduit about the cable in the form of the porcelain tube it and that thegteminal for the conductor is insulated from the grounded portions of the conduit and its support by means of this porcelain tube. With the arrangement shown, it is not necessary to rely upon cemented joints to withstand the high pressure within the conduit but all the joints are packed joints with bolts for tightening the packing.

In order to control the electrostatic flux at the termination of the metal conduit surrounding the cable and at the lower end of the conductor terminal, means are provided for gradually taking up the stress at these points and for preventing concentration at any particular zone. The lower end of the tube it is tapered, as shown at it, and a split cone of sheet metal 32 bridges the space between the termination of the metal wrapping iii and the tapered portion 4! of the porcelain tube. The wrapping i2 is of course erounded on the conduit 63. The outer surface of the tube id is covered with a coating of metal which continues from the lower end of the tube up to a flux control 43 surrounding the tube l4 above the flange M. The flux control 43 is surrounded by an insulated wrapping 44 to avoid any danger of corona or discharge at this point. A similar flux control 45 is connected to"the ter minal sleeve 32 by a metallized coating on the outer surface of the upper end of the tube 54 and counteracting any tendency for discharge from the lower end of the upper terminal. The lower end of the tube I4 is slightly counterbored and the cable insulation at this point is reinforcerlb-y a supplemental wrapping 46 of paper or varnished cambrio or other suitable sheet dielectric material. 'I'he flange l6 may also be provided with an insulated flux control 41.

The space between the porcelain members I4 and I5 is preferably filled with an insulating oil but this oil is not under the high pressure of the oil in the conduit l3 but is simply under the static 2,1 racer p essure due to its head. To prevent escape of the oil within the cone 15, a gasket 48 is interposed between the lower end of the cone and the flange i6 and a gasket 59 is placed between the upper end of the cone and the expansion chamber for the oil in the cone. These gaskets are held under compression by means of a spring 5| which surrounds the terminal sleeve 32 and presses downwardly upon the bottom of the expension-chamber to. ihe upward thrust of the spring 56 is received by a flange 52 which bears against a ring nut threaded onto the sleeve 32. This of course transmits the upper thrust of the spring to the sleeve 32 and in order to withstand this thrust, a flange is cemented to the tube i6 and is connected to the sleeve 32 by nuts on the lower oi the bolts the upper ends of the bolts 36 being bred to the flange A second flange is cemented to .the'lower end of the tube and connected by the bolts 23 and nuts 51? to the flange 516. it will thus be seen that the inner tube it is placed under sufficient tension by the spring 30 to provide the pressure for maintaining tight joints at the upper and lower ends of the cone iii. The springbi may be held in com.- pression during assembly by bolts till which are removed after the parts are in place. The cover 59 for the expansion chamber till is placed in position after the bolts 58 are removed and the oil for the space between the porcelain members it and i5 is supplied through an opening in the cover, which is then closed by means of a pipe plug (iii. In order to provide a tight connection between the expansion chamber lid and the terminal 3?, an accordion bellows (it has its lower end soldered to the cover 59 and its upper end soldered to the terminal 3?. This will permit relative movement between the terminal 37 and the expension chamber 5t] without placing the connected parts under stress.

' in the instmlation or the pothead, the base flange it? and the parts mounted thereon are all assembled in the factory and when taken to the job are simply mounted on the stand I! and so cured in place by bolts 62. The sleeve 24 is disconnected from the flange it and placed loosely over the end of the conduit l3 and the cable is drawn upwardly through the bushing and secured in the terminal M which in turn is clamped to the ring nut 3i by means of a. screw 38', the wrapping 46 being first placed in position at the proper point in the cable. The split cone 42 is then secured about the cable to bridge the space between the wrapping i2 and the tapered portion ll of the tube l4. and secured in position by the bolts 3| and the packing glands 25 and 26 are tightened by their respective bolts. The oil may then be admitted to the conduit 43 and when it appears at the upper end of the terminal 31, the pipe plug 39 is screwed into place to close the interior chamber. The oil may be placed in the outer chamber be- The sleeve 24 is then slid up.

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fore the bushing is shipped or the outer chamber may be filled after it is in position if desired.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that the flanges 54 and 56 of Fig. 1 are omitted in Fig. 2 and in their stead the flanges G3 and 64 are cemented directly to the tube l4 for transmitting the tension of the spring 5|.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the spring 5| is omitted and flanges 65 and 66 are cemented directly to the ends of the cone l5 to provide joints at the upper and lower ends of the cone respectively. In this case there is no stress produced by spring action and it is unnecessary to cement any of the parts to the inner tube It to withstand such tension. 7

I claim:

1. The combination wltha conductor having an insulating covering and a conduit surrounding said conductor and covering and filled with insulating fluid under pressure, of an insulating housing for said conductor comprising an insulator tube surrounding a portion of said conductor projecting from said conduit, a fitting connected with said conduit, an attachment member fixed to said tube and mechanically connected to said fitting for transmitting mechanical stress between said tube and fitting, a collar on said fitting surrounding said tube, packing ior sealing the joint between said collar and tube, a ring surrounding said tube adjacent said collar, said ring being movable relative to said tube, and means connecting said ring and fitting for compressing said packing.

2. The combination with a conductor having an insulating covering and a conduit filled with insulating fluid under pressure surrounding said conductor and covering, of an insulating'housing for said conductor comprising a porcelain tube surrounding the end of said conductor projecting from said conduit, a sleeve bridging the space between the end of said conduit and said tube, an adjustable packing gland connecting said sleeve with said tube and comprising a pair of gland elements, packing interposed between one of said elements and said tube, the other of said elements being movable relative to said tube to compress said packing, and means for relatively adjusting said elements.

3. The combination with a conductor and a conduit filled with insulating liquid under pres sure surrounding said conductor, of an insulating tube enclosing said conductor at the end of said conduit, and means for connecting said conduit with said tube, said connecting means comprising a mechanical joint and a packing gland having packing material therein for forming a liquid tight joint with said tube and having means for compressing said packing material without transmitting stress to said mechanical joint.

4. An electrical insulator comprising a fitting having an opening therethrough, a dielectric tube registering with said opening and having a portion provided with an outer cylindrical surface, means for mechanically connecting said fitting and tube to transmit mechanical stresses therebetween, and a liquid tight joint between said fitting and tube in addition to said mechanical connection, said liquid tight joint comprising packing material bearing on the cylindrical portion of the outer surface of said tube and means for compressing said packing material against said surface without transmitting stress to said tube except through said packing material.

5. An electrical insulator comprising a fitting having an opening therethrough, a dielectric tube registering with said opening, a cement joint connecting said fitting and tube for transmitting mechanical stress therebetween, and a packing gland about said tube forming liquid tight connection between said fitting and tube, said pack-v ing gland comprising packing material and means for pressing said material against the surface of said tube without transmitting stress to I said cement joint.

6. A conduit for an electric conductor comprising a conducting portion andanimulating mameehanical jdntenunectingsaidportions, and a packing gland between said portions I and forming a liquid tight connection therebetween, said packing gland comprising means for tightening said connection without transmitting stress to said mechanical joint.

7. The combination with a conductor having an insulating covering and a conduit surrounding said conductor and covering and filled with insulating liquid under pressure, of a terminal housing for said conductor comprising a dielectric tube surrounding a portion of said conductor projecting from said conduit, a portion of .said tube having a cylindrical outer surface, means for forming a liquid tight jointbetween said conduit and tube to enable liquid from said conduit to enter said tube without escape, a terminal-member having liquid tight connection with the end ofsaid conductor, and a packing gland for connecting said terminal member with said tube to form a liquid tight joint between said terminal member and tube, said packing gland comprising a pair of relatively movable parts separate from said tube and having packing material held thereby in contact with the cylindrical surface of said tube, and threaded means connecting said parts to compress said packing material.

'8. The combination with a conductor having an insulating covering and a conduit surrounding said conductor and covering and filled with insulating fluid under pressure, of a terminal housing for said conductor comprising a dielectric tube surrounding a portion of said conductor projecting from the end of said conduit, portions of the outer surface of said dielectric tube being cylindrical, asleeve bridging the space between said conduit and tube, a packing gland forming a fiuid tight joint between said sleeve and tube, said sleeve having fluid tight connection with said conduit, a terminal member secured to the end of said conductor and forming a fluid tight connection therewith, and a packing gland forming a fluid tight connection between said terminal and tube, each of said packing glands comprising a pair of relatively movable parts separate from said tube and having packing material held thereby in contact with the cylindrical surface of said tube, and threaded means connecting said parts to compress said packing material.

9. The combination with a conductor having an insulating covering and a conduit surrounding said conductor and covering and filled with insulating fluid under pressure, of a pothead for said conductor comprising a base plate having an opening therethrough, mounted on said base plate in registration with said opening forreceiving the end of said conductor projecting from said conduit, means for forming a liquid tight connection between said tube and base plate, a sleeve for bridging the space between the end of said conduit and said base plate, and releasable means for forming liq-. uid tight connection between the ends of said sleeve and said conduit and base plate respectively, said sleeve being movable longitudinally of said conduit, when said connection means is released, to permit access to said conductor adjacent the end of said dielectric tube.

10. A pothead comprising a base plate, a stand for supporting said base plate, said base plate having an opening therethrough, a dielectric tube supported on said base plate in registration with said opening, a sleeve for making tight connection between the lower end of said tube and acable conduit, and packing glands at the upper and lowerends ot'said sleeve respectively for a dielectric tube forming releasable fluid tight connections with said conduit and said tube, said sleeve being niov= able longitudinally of said tube while in axial alignment therewith, when said packing glands are loosened.

ii. A pothead comprising a base plate having an opening therethrough, a dielectric tube mounted on said base plate in registration with said opening, a packing gland forming a liquid tight connection between said dielectric tube and base plate about said opening, a sleeve disposed below said base plate, a packing gland for form.- ing a releasable fluid tight connection between tne end of said sleeve and said base plate, and a packing gland for forming fluid tight connection between the other end of said sleeve and a cable conduit, said sleeve being movable longitudinally of said tube while in axial alignment therewith, when said packing glands are loosened.

12. A pothead for a conductor having an insulating covering, an outer metal sheath and a conduit for insulating fluid under pressure about said covering and sheath, said pothead comprising a base plate having an opening therethrough, a dielectric tube mounted on said base plate in reg istration with said opening, said tube having space for receiving said conductor and insulating covering and for a supplemental wrapping about said covering adjacent the end of said tube, a conductor for connecting said metal sheath with the outer surface of said dielectric tube, a displaceable sleeve for connecting said tube with said conduit to form a liquid tight passage thereloetween.

13. A pothead for a conductor having an insulating covering, an outer metal sheath and a cornduit for insulating fluid under pressure about said conductor, said pothead comprising a base plate having an opening therethrough, an inner tubular member mounted on said base plate in registration with said opening and arranged to surround a portion of said conductor and covering projecting from said conduit, means for forming a liquid tight connection between said lease plate and said tube, a terminal member having liquid tight connection with theend of said conductor and mounted on the end of said tube opposite said base plate, means for forming liquid tight connection between said terminal member and said tube, a sleeve for connecting said tube with the end 0i said conduit, means for forming liquid posits thrust of said spring be;

conductor, said pothead comprising a. base plate, an inner dielectric tube mounted on said base plate, said base plate having an opening therethrough registering with said tube, means for forming liquid tight connection between said tube 5 and base plate, an outer dielectric tube mounted on said base plate and spaced from said inner tube, a closure for the upper end of said outer tube, a spring for eiier'ing pressure on said closure to maintain joints between the ends 10 of said outer tube and said closure and base plate respectively, means including cement joint for transmitting the reaction of said spring to said inner tube a packed joint not subject to the stress transmitted to said cement joint for iorm- 5 ing a liquid tight connection with reaction transmitting means.

is. The combination with, an electrical conduc" tor, of a casing surrounding conductor and insulated therefrom, a dielectric tube surrounding 20 a portion of said conductor where it enters casing, a mechanical joint between said casing and tube for transmitting mechanical stress therehetween, a packed joint between said ing and tube forming a liquid tight jo' between, a terminal fitting connected s doctor and insulated irorn i dielectric tube, a mechanical and a pa i between said terminal fitting said dielectric housing mounted on said can surrounding and spaced from diel ct and a spring interposed between s fitting and said dielectric housing pressing said housing toward casing, the opi g transmitted through said dielectric tube and the aforesaid mechanical joints to said s d packed joints being free from the stress trar tted by said mechanical joints, and means for tightening said packed joints, said mechanical joints be ing free from the stress produced by tightening means. 4

16. The combination with a conductor and conduit for containing liquid under pressure surrounding said conductor, of a pothead for said conductor comprising inner and outer dielectric tubes, a base for said pothead having a collar provided with a downwardly extending rim, said collar having liquid tight connection with said inner tube, a displaceable sleeve, opposite ends of said sleeve overlapping said rim and said conduit respectively for connecting said inner tube and said conduit, and means for forming liquid tight connection between the opposite ends of said sleeve and said rim and conduit respectively, said liquid tight connection forming means being releasable and providing for longitudinal displacement of said sleeve while in axial alignment with said conduit to permit access to said conductor adjacent the end of said inner dielectric tube.

THOMAS; F. BRANDT. 

